I think the secondary will be the most improved unit given they have the most room to grow. I legit like Chris Cook as a potential top 10 CB. I also like Mistral Raymond's potential, with a full offseason learning the system. Raymond seemed to have a knack for being in the right spot in the zone, eventually his instincs will take over where he will get in position to disrupt passes.

Throw in Harrison Smith and Josh Robinson, two prospects I like a lot too, I think there is a lot of potential for this unit to develop together. Even if only half of them pan out, that still isnt a bad hit rate and the team can use the 2013 draft or free agency to patch remaining needs. I havent felt this good about the secondary going forward in a long long time. Since 2010, MN has added some nice DBs with the speed, athleticism and the size to be successful NFL players. Now its just a matter of coaching them up and putting it all together.

Early on, my vote for improvement goes to the lack of drama!
-- Team has a full off-season.
-- By all reports, there's a level of accountability not seen in previous training camps . . . i.e.: Everyone's there to make each other better.
-- From the front office on down to the greenest of undrafted FA's the organization gets to focus on football -- no stadium issues, no Starcaps, no QB or WR or whoever commotions.

Although I'm not on site, seeing the practice field, what I like about what I'm reading and watching is the style of the apparent focus players and coaches have. They know the core vets on that team are good players. They think some of the younger vets can be great players. And the rookies appear to be filling roles well, if not pushing vets.

In the end, the lack of drama, the sense of accountability and the focus might well lead to a more formidable team.

Maybe I'm getting too excited over a rookie, but I think our kicking game will see a lot of improvement. Last year, Longwell was near the bottom of the league in both field goals and kickoffs. Blair Walsh will be an immediate upgrade in kickoffs, and will provide a stronger leg on long field goals as well.

Quote:

Rookie kicker Blair Walsh made seven of eight field-goal attempts from between 36 and 50 yards during the Minnesota Vikings' annual night practice†last Saturday and the 50-yarder would have been good from 60 yards.

This is exactly what the Vikings were hoping to see when they selected Walsh in the sixth round of the NFL draft in April and then jettisoned veteran Ryan Longwell.

"Blair Walsh, as everybody has seen in training camp so far, has a tremendous leg," Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said Monday during an appearance on "Reusse & Mackey" on 1500 ESPN. "If you saw him kick off the other day, he had six touchbacks and I think three of them went through the uprights.

"That's something that we definitely wanted to improve with from last year. Ryan Longwell is a great kicker, has been a great kicker for us, has had a great career and I'm sure his career may continue on here as he gets into the season. But we felt we needed to go in a different direction."

Want a few last statistical nuggets on the productivity of the first team offense through two preseason games? Ponder and the first unit have been on the field for five possessions now. Those drives have averaged nine offensive plays and 59 yards. The Vikings have penetrated the oppositionís 35 yard line every time and havenít punted. Overall, Ponder is 14-for-22 for 216 yards and a touchdown. He has yet to turn the ball over and has been sacked twice. Those five series have ended with a touchdown, three field goals and a missed field goal.